10-10-2007, 12:58 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--> <b>Four days of battles between militants, Pakistani troops leave up to 250 dead </b>
MIRAN SHAH, Pakistan, Oct 9 (AP) Four days of fierce fighting between militants and security forces near the Afghan border have killed as many as 250 people, the army said Tuesday<b>. Airstrikes hit Epi village bazaa</b>r in North Waziristan tribal region Tuesday afternoon, and more than 50 militants and civilians were killed and scores more were wounded, said resident Noor Hassan. <b>''The bombing destroyed many shops and homes,'' Hassan said. ''We are leaving.'' Twelve huge explosions rocked the village and bombs also hit the nearby village of Hader Khel, he said</b>. Army spokesman Major General Waheed Arshad said that military aircraft struck ''one or two places'' near the town of Mir Ali and there were reports that about 50 militants were killed. Also Tuesday, a roadside bomb killed two soldiers, the army said. Epi lies about four kilometres from Mir Ali. Fighting broke out in North Waziristan Saturday after roadside bomb hit a truckload of paramilitary troops, sparking clashes. The bodies of dozens of soldiers have been recovered from deserted areas of the region, fleeing residents said. Before Tuesday's airstrikes, the army had reported that battles have killed 150 fighters and 45 soldiers since Saturday. About 12-15 troops are missing. Another 50 militants and 20 soldiers had been wounded. Security forces have rejected a cease-fire proposed by the militants and will ''continue punitive action till complete peace is restored'' in the area, an army statement said. (FirstPosted @ 10:28 PST, Updated@ 19:00 PST)<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
MIRAN SHAH, Pakistan, Oct 9 (AP) Four days of fierce fighting between militants and security forces near the Afghan border have killed as many as 250 people, the army said Tuesday<b>. Airstrikes hit Epi village bazaa</b>r in North Waziristan tribal region Tuesday afternoon, and more than 50 militants and civilians were killed and scores more were wounded, said resident Noor Hassan. <b>''The bombing destroyed many shops and homes,'' Hassan said. ''We are leaving.'' Twelve huge explosions rocked the village and bombs also hit the nearby village of Hader Khel, he said</b>. Army spokesman Major General Waheed Arshad said that military aircraft struck ''one or two places'' near the town of Mir Ali and there were reports that about 50 militants were killed. Also Tuesday, a roadside bomb killed two soldiers, the army said. Epi lies about four kilometres from Mir Ali. Fighting broke out in North Waziristan Saturday after roadside bomb hit a truckload of paramilitary troops, sparking clashes. The bodies of dozens of soldiers have been recovered from deserted areas of the region, fleeing residents said. Before Tuesday's airstrikes, the army had reported that battles have killed 150 fighters and 45 soldiers since Saturday. About 12-15 troops are missing. Another 50 militants and 20 soldiers had been wounded. Security forces have rejected a cease-fire proposed by the militants and will ''continue punitive action till complete peace is restored'' in the area, an army statement said. (FirstPosted @ 10:28 PST, Updated@ 19:00 PST)<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->